At a Glance
- Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott’s daughter Maddie committed to playing softball at Notre Dame
- McDermott balances NFL coaching demands with family life in Western New York
- The family advocates for food allergy and skin cancer awareness after personal experiences
- Why it matters: Shows how the high-pressure NFL lifestyle intersects with family and community involvement
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott has guided his team to multiple playoff appearances since 2017, but his proudest moment may have come when daughter Maddie committed to playing softball at the University of Notre Dame.
Family First Philosophy
McDermott, who took over as Bills coach in 2017, openly discusses the challenge of maintaining perspective while leading an NFL franchise.
“Because it’s a performance-driven job and we’re at the highest levels, there’s a chance you’re not going to get that result every week that you’re looking for or coach your best game,” McDermott said during an October 2025 interview with ESPN.
The coach continued, “Trying to make sure that my worth is yes, this job is important to me, very important to me, but I have to find for my own good and my own health ways to make sure that I stay tied to the bigger picture for myself and for my family. And then hopefully try and model that to my kids as well.”
Sean and his wife Jamie have raised their three children – Maddie, Gavin and Kelly – in Western New York since he accepted the coaching position. Maddie was 8 years old, Gavin was 6, and Kelly was a baby when the family relocated to Buffalo.
Coaching Evolution
Jamie McDermott has witnessed her husband’s coaching style transform during his tenure with the Bills. When Sean started, he developed a reputation for strict discipline – removing video games and air hockey tables from the locker room, banning explicit music, and requiring players to dress up for away game travel.
“I think he’s developed into a more multifaceted coach over the years,” Jamie told The Athletic. “When he started, I think it was more just let’s win, win, win, win.”
This evolution parallels his growth as a father, learning to balance the intense demands of NFL coaching with family responsibilities.
Community Commitment
The McDermotts have embraced Western New York as their home, actively participating in community initiatives. Sean has spoken out against the “city of losers” narrative that plagued Buffalo during the team’s 17-season playoff drought.
“Yeah, now it’s a city of winners,” Sean told reporters, per NBC Sports in January 2025. “It really is. These people in this town are winners. I’ve been here just eight years, but I consider this my hometown. This place is different and the people here are different and they deserve more than whoever said that about them.”
The family regularly visits Oishei Children’s Hospital of Buffalo and has partnered with local grocery stores to create food drives supporting families with food allergies and special dietary needs.
Personal Health Advocacy
The McDermotts’ community involvement stems from personal experiences. Sean began advocating for food allergy awareness after two of his children were born with allergies.
“We’ve experienced firsthand having to use the EpiPen when foods that my daughter is allergic to have been consumed, and it’s not fun, I can promise you that,” he told the Buffalo Bills blog in August 2021.
The family has also worked to raise skin cancer awareness. Sean has struggled with skin cancer for years, undergoing multiple procedures to remove concerning spots, including basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
“I want to be around for my kids, for my family and want to support them the right way and raise them the right way with good values, and if I’m not around via skin cancer … I wouldn’t be responsible because of that,” Sean told WIVB.
Fatherhood Challenges
Despite his professional success, McDermott’s children keep him grounded. In July 2022, he joked with WIVB that his kids did not consider him to be a cool dad.
“They make fun of me … my mannerisms on the sideline,” he said, laughing. “The clapping, the intensity, I guess. But they see it at home too, believe me.”
This humility reflects McDermott’s understanding that his role as father extends beyond football. He believes his family is in Buffalo “for a reason” that “goes well beyond the football field.”
Legacy Beyond Football
The McDermott family’s story illustrates how professional sports figures navigate the intersection of career demands and family life. While Sean continues leading the Bills’ pursuit of a championship, his most significant victories may come in the lives he touches through community service and the values he instills in his children.
Maddie’s commitment to Notre Dame represents not just athletic achievement but the culmination of years of family support and dedication. As she prepares for collegiate softball, her father’s influence extends beyond the football field into every aspect of family and community life.
Key Takeaways:
- Sean McDermott prioritizes family balance while coaching an NFL team
- His daughter Maddie’s Notre Dame commitment highlights family achievements
- The McDermotts advocate for food allergy and skin cancer awareness based on personal experiences
- The family has fully embraced Buffalo as their home and community
